My grandmother was born 26 September 1892 in Whitehouse, Lucas County, Ohio, one of nine children of Isaac and Orentha (Cabisher) Lehman. (You may have heard the name Cabisher before as Orentha and the infamous "Aunt Merle" were sisters.)

Her brother Clair Alexander died just after his 21st birthday. Her brother George B. and her sister Leonora died both died young. The only brother to marry was Will.

Of her family, I remember Aunt Fannie (Lehman) DeSana, Aunt Mearl (Lehman) Batdorf, and Aunt Nellie. Another sister, Ada Grace died before I was born.

Aunt Nellie never married and lived with her parents. After Isaac died, she lived with her mother and helped at home. When Orentha passed away, she would live with her sisters, usually for four to six weeks at a time. I remember her when I was a child. Oh, she loved to borrow my comic books. I'd see her when she was staying with my grandparents and I'd always take stacks of magazines to her. I also remember she loved to watch "wrestling" on the television! She was such a nice lady.

Aunt Fannie and Uncle Will DeSana lived in Toledo. I remember going to visit them with my grandparents or mom and dad. The house seemed so dark. The furniture was dark wood and massive. I vaguely remember the living room and kitchen. I think of her as being a true "lady."

Then there was Aunt Mearl. She was such a sweet lady with a wonderful sense of humor. She had been a cook at the Whitehouse school and at one time ran a diner in town. Dad would mention it as a "greasy spoon." Aunt Mearl would get so mad at him! "Jack! It was NOT a greasy spoon!!!"

After my Grandma Sloan died, Aunt Mearl and my Grandpa Sloan would come to our house for dinner. Pipi had just purchased a new hearing aid. Aunt Mearl said, "Dan! How's your new hearing aid?" To which he replied, "Huh???" Guess we know how it worked!

I really began "remembering" things when I was about four or five. One of the great memories was going to Mimi and Pipi's home on Garfield in Swanton, Ohio. Mimi was a fantastic cook and baker. Mom, Dad, and I would walk in the front door and I'd make a bee line for the kitchen. On the bottom shelf of the last cupboard at the far right, just in reach, was the cookie tin! It was a metal, oval, and basket shaped. I'd slowly lift the lid and if I was very lucky, inside would be the most fantastic, soft, melt-in-your-mouth orange cookies! After grabbing one (okay, three) I'd finally go back to the living room and say hello to everyone. I'd get scolded every time, but I *needed* those cookies!

Mimi was the grandmother who never worked outside of her home. That was her work...her family and loved ones. If there was someone who was ill in town, she'd make sure she either made dinner (supper) for them or did some baking and took goodies to the family.

When I was in high school, one of the elementary schools had just been built. We would go right by my grandparents' home to drop off the "little kids" at the school. Every morning, Mimi would be outside either sweeping the porch or sidewalk. She was always in a dress and had her earrings on.

It seems my memories of her revolve around food as another great memory was going to Fauble's restaurant in Swanton. Johnny Vaughn was the cook and made the best pies, breads, and noodles around. (An irony about Johnny. He owned a house called the "Vaughn House" in town. He rented out rooms as it was such a big place. My great-grandfather, Russell Sloan built that home.)

After Dad married Margie-Mom in 1964, I remember going there for dinner. She had the dining room table set and it was beautiful. There in the middle of the table, was a lovely compote of red, juicy, jam. I got a hot dinner roll and smeared lots of jam on it. I took a bite, waiting for the sweetness to envelope my taste buds. Yuk! It wasn't strawberry jam as I thought. It was RHUBARB!

After mom (Joanne) died, Mimi would come to our home and do cleaning for Dad and me. One of the times, she got a can from under the kitchen sink and proceeded to spray the white foam on the window. Imagine her surprise when she found out it was white spray paint.

Dad loved to tease his mother. In the upstairs bathroom was a white plaster Man in the Moon. Dad would go up and get her makeup, usually lipstick and blusher, and would "paint" the moon. She'd go up almost immediately after Dad would come down. "Jack!" Oh, I can hear her voice go up an octave!

She'd get revenge, though. Dad had a habit of leaving his shoes on the floor in the kitchen. When he was in another room, his shoe laces would be tied together and tissue stuffed in the toes. She'd sit and grin, knowing he'd find it the next time he went to put on his shoes.

She was a kind and gracious lady. She belonged to the Eastern Star and faithfully attended the Methodist Church.